How to Start a Company in Zug, Switzerland
- 1). Draft articles of association for the company and have a notary witness, the signing of the document. You will need a registration application form for your company, the "Lex Friedrich Declaration Form" (allows foreigners to purchase real estate), as well as, the "Stampa Declaration Form" ("negative declaration on investments and chattels of the founders' privileges"), are signed and submitted to the Register of Commerce---filing fee is about CHF$50 (CHF$1=USD$0.9624). The filing of these forms is necessary for incorporation. These forms can be acquired online, and while a name check is not a requirement, it is highly suggested. This step can range from a minimum CHF$500-20,000--based on 0.1 percent of the company's capital. There will be an additional CHF$100 for the legalization of five signatures. This process takes seven days .
- 2). Deposit the initial capital into a bank escrow account. The bank will transfer the capital to the company's bank account, upon the successful registration at the Commercial Registry. Bank fees range from CHF$200-2,000. There is a mandatory CHF$200 transfer fee charged by the bank to transfer the funds.
- 3). File the deed certifying the articles of association at the legal register. Once this certification is done, you can obtain an identity from the legal register. The register will publish the articles of association in addition to the statutes, and names of the shareholders, in the Swiss Commercial Gazette within nine days. Publishing the articles gives the entity a legal personality, and secures your company's trade name. Documents such as the Stampa and Lex Friedrich declaration forms, from step 1, and income tax registration. The fees attached to this step are determined by the company's capital.
- 4). Render stamp tax payment to the post office, upon receipt of mail assessment. The fee is 1 percent of registered company capital with the first CHF$1,000,000 exempt. After incorporation of your company with the commercial registry, register with the "Federal Tax Administration." According to Swiss law, all companies are not subject to taxation, therefore, a procedure exists to determine if a company is susceptible to taxation.
- 5). Register to the value tax added system (VAT). Visit the taxation authority within the Zug municipality of your company's incorporation to register for VAT. This process is free of charge, and takes just one day to complete.
- 6). Enroll all company employees into the social insurance system. The Zug social security office will send an enrollment registration application, for the social security insurance, for the company's employees. This system offers retirement and survivors' insurance benefits, disability insurance, retirement pension, and occupational accident insurance. There is no fee charged for this step.
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